Radioactivity around damaged nuclear reactors in north-eastern Japan have reached dangerous levels, the government said Tuesday, dpa reported.
"We are talking now about radiation levels that can endanger human health," top government spokesman Yukio Edano said.
Residents living near the reactors in Fukushima, 240 kilometres north of Tokyo, who have not heeded evacuation orders should close their doors and windows and not wear clothing that has hung outside, the chief cabinet secretary said.
The danger decreases the farther one is away from the reactors, Edano said. "We can continue to lead our normal lives," he said.
Friday's magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami caused the cooling systems of reactors at Fukushima to fail. Explosions have occurred since then at reactors number 1, 2 and 3, the latest coming Tuesday in the second reactor.
A fire was also reported Tuesday in reactor number 4.
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